While Sean Hannity was attempting to toss a life vest to Donald Trump, the latter waved it away.
Fox News anchor asked probable GOP nominee whether he had “any plans whatsoever, if reelected president, to abuse power?” during a town hall in Davenport, Iowa, on the eve of what could be the last Republican primary debate of the campaign. To disobey the law? “So that we can pursue individuals through the government?”
A parry was made by Trump. Inquiring, Hannity examined more. “Are you telling America tonight that you would never use your position of power as a weapon of revenge against anybody?” he questioned Trump once more.
“Apart from the first day,” Trump stated.
Were Trump’s first comments a joke? A danger? Is it a vow?
Even if Trump was merely winking at tyranny, his announcement was a turning point in the campaign, coming at a time when he and his potential cabinet members are drawing criticism for what some see as their preparations for a more autocratic form of leadership.
As his remaining four opponents meet in Alabama tonight, the timing couldn’t have been more befitting—instantly laying down the gauntlet. Despite their natural reluctance to do so, his interview subtly invited them to either concede or criticise their party’s frontrunner in the primary. His first remarks as dictator provide a chance for other Republicans, such as biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former New Jersey governor Chris Christie, former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley, and Florida governor Ron DeSantis, to confirm or deny that the Republican Party now includes elements of authoritarianism.
For Democrats, Trump’s comments posed a danger, but the incident also brought the anticipated general election showdown between Trump and Biden full circle. Party members were able to sway voters in the midterms by focusing on a package of issues that includes both abortion access and democracy.
Nearly simultaneously with Trump’s speech, President Joe Biden was in Boston for a series of fundraisers, where he admitted that Trump and his threat to democracy were the driving forces behind his re-election campaign.
“Trump isn’t even trying to hide the ball anymore,” Biden added, his guard down. His intentions are quite clear, and he’s telling us so. He’s being really forthright about it.
Following Trump’s comments, Biden’s campaign issued a statement endorsing that sentiment. “Donald Trump has been telling us exactly what he will do if he’s reelected and tonight he said he will be a dictator on day one,” Biden campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez said. Americans ought to have faith in him.
Republicans might interpret Trump’s remarks as one of his signature jokes, another “stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody” moment. Hey, you’re not going to rule the country, are you?—this person [Hannity] asks. Except for the first day, I firmly stated, “No, no, no.”
Trump then redirected the conversation when Hannity asked him to elaborate on his comments, stating that he would drill and protect the border using presidential authority. “That is not retribution,” Hannity stated with a relaxed expression.
A former vice chair of the Jan. 6 Committee and current third-party presidential candidate, Rep. Liz Cheney, saw hope in Trump’s comments. When asked by Joe Kernen of CNBC’s Squawk Box whether she would have preferred a Biden presidency, Cheney responded, “We’re in a moment, however, where we face on the other side a man who, he doesn’t deny that he thinks what happened on Jan. 6 is a special thing.”. Every day, he extols its virtues. He claims that he will exact revenge once he is re-elected. The night before, he had already said, “Yes, I’m going to be a dictator for a day.”
There was no mistaking the reception that Trump’s town hall and statements received from the audience in Davenport as Hannity concluded the event.
They applauded him enthusiastically.